The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-14
A NEW MAN ELECTED.
Dr.. Thcs. 7. Gslbraitb, Of Seymour, Chosen
Superintendent Of the Insane Hospital.
Another Term, but the Trustees
Unanimously Favor q Change.

A regular meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane
was held yesterday al the Institution. It
has been known for some time that i'm
portant business would be transacted at
this meeting and the outcome can not be
chronicled as a surpsise. All three OF the
Trustees were present, DR.. T. ii. Harrison
presiding.
There has been no secret of the
intention OF the Board to make
a change in the superintendency OF
term of four years expired on the 9th day
eff June, last, and he has since been wait
ing for his successor to be duly elected and
qualified. He was known to be a candi-
date for reelection, but had not made for.
NAL application for q renewal of official
life. There was another application on
file, however, that of DR.. Thomas s.. Gal
braith, and the authoritative statement
was published several weeks ago that he
would be the new Superintendent. His
election had been agreed upon and all
action on the part of the Board,
which was delayed tor period owing to
the absence of one of the trustees. DR..
Galbraith had been unofhcially informed
that he would be the choice of the Board,
and, By request, was in the city.
The usual routine came before the Trus-
tees. There were the customary bills to
pass upon and the various reports to be
examined and approved. Accompanying
the report of DR.. Fletcher was the follow
ing formal notice of his candidacy for re-
election:
hereby tender my services as superintendent
for another term. w. B. FLETCHER. Sup't
This was simply read with the report at
the time of its submission, but afterward the
Trustees went into executive session to con-
slider the matter of the Superintendency.
Mr.. Burrell moved that DR.. Galbraith's ap-
plication be accepted, and that he be elected
Superintendent of the Indiana Hospital
for the Insane for the ensuing term Of
four years. The motion prevailed without
dissent and President Harrison thereupon
declared DR.. Galbraith the unanimous
choice Of the Board for the position for the
time specified.
DR. Fletcher and DR. Galbraith were at once
apprised of the action of the Board, and
neither manifested the least surprise. DR..
Fletcher accepted the denouement without
any show OF feeling. He stated that he
had expected to retire at this time and was
ready to do so; that while his views had
not always harmonized with those of the
Board, he was pleased to know that their
relations, in the main, had been pleasant,
and he would step down and out with no
complaint
LIZ Ou1UIdltus buc
spent the rest of the day, as well as tia
night, at the institution, and will be in
stalled this morning. He went through
every ward of the two departments and his
familiarity with the scenes was apparent.
He afterward diDed with DR.. Fletcher and
family, and In courfe of short time was
introduced to almost the entire corps of
attendants and other employees.
The new superintendent is not only a
physician OF high standing, but has thor.
oughly fitted himself for the work which
be now undertakes, and will carry with
him an experience acquired by study and
travel, which should cas- ly enable him to
maintain the reputation Of the hospital as
model public charity. DR.. Galbraith is
Hoosier, native of Bartholomew County,
fourty four years of age. His professional
practice covers q period of twenty-one
years. He is a graduate of the Ohio Medi-
cal College, and has spent three years
1877, 1886, 1SS2-in Bellevue Hospital, New
York. Last year he travelled extensively
in Europe, visiting all the important in
sane hospitals of that country for the pur-
pose OF familiarizIng himself with the de-
tails of their management. He has wife,
but no children.
The salary of the Superintendent of the
Insane Hospital is s., 600 per annum. 1t
was fixed at this amount by an old statute
enacted when the Hospital was but half its
present size and consisted of but one de-
p4rtment. Besides the salary, however,
provision is made for the living expenses
of the Superintendent and family. DIR.
Fleicher's wife has held the position of
mairon, which pays an additional salary
of 81. 600.
Few changes are expected at the
hands Of DR.. Galbraith. He, like
DIR. Fletcher. is a believer in the
non restaint system in treating insane
persons, and there will be no departure
from this. The Superintendent-elect an
nounces that there are to De no material
changes of employees, and that all of the
minor attaches of the institution Who do
their duty may safely rely upon holding
their places No changes in the more inn
portant positions are contemplated, but it
is probable that an assistant physician to
succeed DR.. Brown, who resigned to go to
Tennessee, will ultimately be chosen.
The change in the superintendency
scarce created ripple at the institution
and appearances yesterday indicated that
everything would 60 on in machine-like
order as IL nothing had happened.